Neighborhood Watch Programs - Essay Example

The Research Problem Since the recession has hit, the instances of burglaries have increased. People have become desperate as a result of harsh economic times, and they will engage in robberies (Barabe; BBC, "Burglary numbers continue to rise"; Travis; Woods). Precious valuables are stolen, and this includes personal identification documents, such as ID's, passports, and driver's licenses (Crime Stoppers). A new trend of burglaries is on the rise and is quite troubling to the public. This trend is known as distraction burglaries, where a person may come to another's home and ask for help with a particular task while at the same time, this individual is stealing whatever valuables he finds appealing. When examining case studies that were done concerning these types of burglaries, is seems that most of the targets in these types of burglaries are the elderly. For instance, Real case studies of distraction burglary victims demonstrate that there are a number of interesting techniques that burglars use to distract their victims. In one instance, an eighty-year-old woman from the West Midlands was befriended by a man who told her that he would help with her gardening. He did actually help her with gardening work; however, the third time he was there he asked her if he could use the bathroom. The elderly woman granted permission, but rather than using the bathroom, he searched her bedroom and stole some of her jewelry (Crimestoppers). Burglars have used worse techniques to distract their targets, such as by making use of children to play on the heartstrings of their targets. In Surrey, a young woman knocked on the door of an elderly woman who was seventy-eight years of age, stating that her daughter lost her ball in her garden. While the young woman and the elderly woman searched for the alleged lost ball, two men entered her home, searched everywhere, and stole some cash and her purse. The elderly woman did manage to confront the intruders; however, she was not successful, and the trio managed to get away with her belongings (Crimestoppers, "Case studies - Victims of distraction burglary). Since burglaries are on the rise, and burglars are become more creative about accomplishing what they want, more resources will need to be used to deter burglars. A source titled "More Police Needed to Beat Recession Burglaries" states that there is an immense amount of pressure on the police force, as a result of the rise in burglaries. It is estimated that at least two thousand more officers will be needed on the police force to protect the public from such crimes (Reuters). People are not only looking to the police to protect them. Other measures, such as neighborhood watch programs, have been put into place. Neighborhood watch programs involve a group of individuals set up to watch others in a specific neighborhood, and these groups are increasing in popularity (Home Office). Since the 1980's, it has been reported that the number of neighborhoods in the UK with neighborhood watch programs have increased immensely. According to an article found in the Crime Prevention Research Review, "The report of the 2000 British Crime Survey estimated that more than a quarter (27 percent) of all households (approximately six million households) in England and Wales were members of a neighborhood watch program" (Holloway, Bennett, and Farrington). The same article goes onto state that "Nearly all studies found that neighborhood watch areas were associated with lower levels of crime" (Holloway, Bennett, and Farrington). Some even go as far as to saying that such programs decrease the risk of homes being burglarized and have made instances an all time rarity in areas where such programs are instituted (British Crime Survey) In order to know if this is fact, we must research the statistics in areas where there are neighborhood watch programs and compare them to areas that do not have such programs in place, which leads to discussing the purpose of this proposal. The purpose of this proposal is to do extensive research to find out if neighborhood watch programs really reduce crimes in areas where they are instituted. We must make use of several different research methods in order to obtain the information necessary to properly address this research problem. We must also consult a wide range of sources, such as books, newspaper articles, and journals, as these will allow us to see the big picture of what is truly going on in our neighborhoods. In order to do this; we need to set some aims and objectives in place to insure the success of this project. One aim and objective that we must set in place is to draft up a schedule and plan out all of our research activities. Proper planning insures that our time is used wisely and that we can thoroughly research the question at hand. The second aim and objective is to make sure that we utilize a wide variety of research methods to obtain the information that we need from a wide variety of sources, as well as to examine different theories. Our final aim and objective is to compare our findings across a number of sources to see if the information we are obtaining is fact. Remembering our purpose and sticking to our aims and objectives throughout the project will insure that we successfully arrive to a conclusion. Theoretical perspectives and concepts There are two theories that we need to examine during the course of our project. One theory is that while neighborhood watches are a good idea, they are not as nearly effective as people would like to believe. The only way to deter crime is to have more police on the police force patrolling the streets. Individuals believing this theory feel that despite such efforts to deter burglaries, not much have been done because there are still crime hot spots where crime is at its all time worse. An article titled "The burglary map of Britain: Manchester tops crime league of shame" states that official figures say that Manchester has more burglaries than anywhere else in the UK with more than thirty burglaries per one thousand households (Daily Mail Reporter). Following Manchester, parts of Nottingham and Reading had high instances of burglaries. Following these areas is Haringey, London which had a total of thirty burglaries per one thousand homes equaling up to two thousand two hundred and seventy burglaries total, Leeds which had twenty-eight burglaries per one thousand households, equaling up to nine thousand two hundred and forty-eight burglaries total. Bradford had twenty-seven burglaries per one thousand households, equaling up to five thousand two hundred and thirty-six burglaries total. Luton had twenty-seven burglaries per one thousand households, equaling up to two thousand and twenty burglaries total. Enfield had twenty-six burglaries per one thousand households, equaling up to three thousand and forty-nine burglaries total. Slough had twenty-six per one thousand households, equaling up to one thousand two hundred and seven burglaries total, and Bristol had 26 per one thousand households (BBC, "UK's burglary 'hotspots' revealed"; Secure at Home). Then, there are those who believe in the theory that neighborhood watch programs serve as a deterrent for burglars. These individuals feel that such programs keep instances of burglaries to an all time low and improve the safety of the neighborhoods in which these programs have been established. Concerning this, a source titled "Building Secure, Confident Communities in the UK" says that neighborhood watches are one method to building communities that are safe, secure, and confident because burglars will be deterred from breaking into homes, since they know that they are being watched and do not want to be caught (Neighborhoodwatch.net). Burglaries occur because burglars look for the best opportunities to commit their crimes. The targets that they select are ones that present the least amount of obstacles, as they want to get the crime over and done with as quickly as possible, so they can make a clean getaway. If burglars know that a particular dwelling is too risky to target or will present a number of obstacles that will be too difficult to get around, they will move on (Metropolitan Police Service). This is the reasoning that supporters of neighborhood watches will use. But which theory is actually correct In order to make the determination of which theory can be construed as fact, we will need to research whether or not there are any neighborhoods in any of these cities that are high risk for burglaries have neighborhood watch programs that have successfully deterred burglaries in their respective areas. We must also take the statistics from those neighborhoods and compare them to neighborhoods that do not have such programs established. Then, we will be able to determine if neighborhood watch programs are truly effective or are a waste of time. Research methods In order to truly know whether or not neighborhood watch programs cut down on the amount of burglaries in a given area or put a stop to them altogether, making the area a safer place to live, a number of research methods will have to be applied. These various research methods will allow us to gather the necessary data that will enable us to determine whether or not such programs are truly effective. There are five research methods that will be utilized. These methods are as follows: - Interviews.-we can interview residents of a variety of neighborhoods, such as those neighborhoods with neighborhood watch programs and those that do not, as well as the police officers who work in those districts. Interviews must be conducted in all of the cities where burglaries are at their highest, as well as those cities where burglaries are at an all time low. We can even interview people in organizations that promote neighborhood watch programs to get their perspective on matters. Their insight will be important. - Internet research.-We can use the Internet to obtain a variety of sources, such as news articles, statistics, and sources from the government that report on crime. We will also have access to a large number of different search engines at our disposal. - Database research.--We can use databases to access a variety of journal articles, news articles, and other helpful publications. - Research at a Library.-Researching at a library will enable us to have access to sources that cannot be obtained on the Internet or through a database, such as books that are not in digital or audio format. The library may also have copies of older sources in case we may need them to compare burglary statistics from possibly as far back as the eighties to now. - Researching Newspapers...-Researching the newspapers will allow us to have access to articles not found in the library, on the web, or through utilizing databases. Newspaper companies have copies of every article they have ever printed, hence the reason that newspapers are a nice resource. These five research methods will enable us to obtain data from a wide range of sources. This will enable us to thoroughly address the research problem from all perspectives. For instance, interviewing police officers will enable us to see this issue from their standpoint, while interviewing residents of varying neighborhoods will enable us to see things from yet another standpoint. Newspapers, databases, and library sources will also provide a more technical perspective to the research problem and will lend a more professional insight on matters. Now that we have discussed what methods of research will be applied to the research problem of whether or not neighborhood watch areas have reduced instances of burglaries, it is fitting that we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of each research method. This is important, as it will help us to know what we are up against when we get the project started, so there are no surprises along the way. Not to mention, knowing the advantages and disadvantages will enable us to be better prepared to undertake all aspects of researching this issue. First, we will look at the advantages of interviewing various subjects to obtain information. This technique has two notable advantages that must be given careful consideration. These advantages are as follows: - Personal perspective.-Interviewing will allow us to see things from the perspective of the police officers and the residents from various neighborhoods. Not to mention, we can gain a variety of insights from a number of differing backgrounds. - Better understanding of how neighborhoods are.-Speaking with the cops and residents will enable us to see more than what the statistics and news articles will provide. They will enable us to see the true pictures as to how these neighborhoods really are. We will have a chance to see the people behind the statistics. Then, there are the disadvantages of this particular research method. Two of them come to mind. They are as follows: - Data can be slanted.-The data can be slanted in interviews because people may give answers that they want us to hear rather than what is truthful. - May be difficult to interview enough subjects.-We may have a difficult time finding enough people at home to talk to or enough police officers willing to participate in interviews. Also, individuals working with organizations that promote neighborhood watches may be too busy to speak with us. Now that we have given consideration to the advantages of interviewing subject to gather information, we will look at the advantages of Internet research, of which there are two major ones that cannot be overlooked. These advantages are as follows: - Can obtain a wide variety of information.-the Internet will enable us to obtain a wide variety of information from government statistics, news articles, to personal accounts and sites to aid us in finding the information that we need. - Quick access to necessary information.-the Internet allows us to access information quickly. With just a few clicks of the mouse, we will have everything that we need. The good news about this particular research method is that the disadvantages are few. As a matter of fact, there is only one disadvantage to be concerned about, and that is the possibility of coming across a number of resources that are not authoritative or reliable. The reason that this is the case is because anyone can publish things to the internet, so we will have to be watchful of these types of resources and see to it that we check the validity and reliability of each resource that we obtain from the Internet. Next, we will consider the advantages of utilizing a database for research. This particular research method has three advantages, and they are as follows: - Access to a wide variety of sources.-Databases will enable us to have a wide variety of sources at our fingertips. We will have access to various journal articles, newspaper articles, and other sources that provide us with straightforward statistics. Best of all, we will not have to worry about the reliability and validity of the information that we receive, as we can opt to find resources that are peer reviewed. - Obtain resources that are very specific to the research problem.-Databases have options that will not only allow us to narrow our searches, we can enter words the twill allow us to find results that are even more specific than what Google will provide. - Obtain access to statistics.-Databases will populate a great number of results that contain statistics necessary for us to tackle our research problem. While databases are spectacular for obtaining specific information with just a few clicks of the mouse, this research method has two disadvantages. These are as follows: - Access to databases may cost. -Usually, when one uses a database, a nominal fee or subscription cost must be paid. - Access only from specific locations.-If a subscription or nominal fee is not paid, databases may be accessed from certain institutions, such as a public library or a university. Researching in libraries is thought to be outdated; yet, there are two advantages to this particular method. These advantages are as follows: - Access to sources that are not available online or through a database.-Libraries will enable us to access resources, such as books that are not published in digital format or old newspaper articles. - Extra help with obtaining necessary sources.-Should we have difficulty finding certain resources, trained library staff are standing by and waiting to help. This will save us a whole lot of time. Just like the Internet, there is only one disadvantage to this particular research method. The only disadvantage to contend with is time constraints. We will only be able to research during the library's hours of operation, which may put some restrictions on what we may be able to accomplish. Other than that, utilizing this particular research method will yield many positive results. Then, there are the advantages of making use of the newspapers to collect data. Using the newspapers offers the following two advantages to us: - Access older publications.-We can find older publications that are not online, in the library, or in databases. - Access to news articles not found anywhere else.-If we can't find news articles anywhere else, the newspapers will certainly have it, due to the fact that newspapers keep copies of every article they have ever printed. There is only one disadvantage to using this research method. This disadvantage is that we will have to look at these articles by appointment. This can pose a problem because there are chances that an appointment may not be able to be obtained in a reasonable amount of time. Since we have discussed the various research methods we will use in addressing this research problem, we will now need to focus on the ethical issues that come into play. One ethical issue that is great concern is that we will need to be sure that we interview everyone fairly, not being partial to people due to race or creed. We need to remove ourselves from any preconceived notions about such groups of people and be impartial. Also, we must give both rich and poorer neighborhoods the same amount of attention. We should not only focus on the poorer neighborhoods, assuming that the poor are the only ones who commit burglaries, which has always been the common belief. The rich do also, especially since the recession has changed things for a variety of people from various social classes. For example, individuals who we never thought would ever commit burglaries, such as professional business men and women. These individuals steal things, like high dollar valuables and even food, so they are able to maintain the lifestyle that they had before the recession took place. They are not willing to accept that their circumstances have drastically changed and that they will have to watch their spending in the same way that average people do. Some of these individuals even feel entitled to top-of-the-line material goods, and when caught, they will use this excuse to justify their actions. On the other hand, they will beg not to be published in the local papers for theft because they do not want to be shamed all over town and their good name ruined. Some fear the shame so terribly that they have even tried committing suicide. A number of crisis workers are standing by to help these individuals. Then, there are the upper class teenagers who have taken to stealing. They are angry that their parents can no longer afford to purchase the material goods that they have always enjoyed, such as electronic games and various forms of technology, such as cell phones and PC related items. These teens want to continue to be in good with their peers, and they do not want to be like the average children who do not always have the luxury of accessing these sorts of material goods. As the recession gets worse and things become more difficult to afford, it is estimated that more upper class people will commit burglaries (Woods). If we deal with these ethical issues when they arise, the research project will be a success. If we allow them to get in the way, the project will more than likely become a disaster. So, it is important that we pay close attention and see to it that all ethical issues are given the necessary attention they need and that they are properly addressed. Anticipated Problems During the research process, we anticipate problems arising. One problem that we anticipate is that there will possibly not be enough time to research all that we need to research. This means that we will not be able to obtain all of the information needed to address our research problem. One way that we can possibly tackle this particular issue is through managing our time wisely. We can do this by making a strict schedule and following it. Making very little deviation from it or none at all if possible... Also, carefully planning our activities will enable us to get everything done that we need to get done in an effective and efficient manner. If we do these things, this will result in accomplishing all of our research activities and obtaining all necessary information to answer our research question. Then, there is the issue of making sure all of the sources that we obtain is valid and reliable. In order to see to it that all of our information is valid and reliable, we can look in places that will only produce such information, such as government websites, journals, and newspapers. Going to such places for information will result in saving time, as we will not have to weed out sources that are not legitimate. Sticking closely to our aims and objectives will enable our research project to be a success. Our aims and objectives will also serve as a guide, so we will not go astray and accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Only then will we truly find out if areas that have neighborhood watch programs have less instances of crime than those that don't. Work Cited Barabe, Mary. "Beating the burglars -provided by Barclays." Nebusiness.co.uk. N.p., 26 Apr. 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-news/special-features/2010/04/26/beating-the-burglars-provided-by-barclays-51140-26321915/. BBC. "Burglary numbers continue to rise." Bbc.co.uk. N.p., 23 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . BBC. "UK's Burglary Hotspots Revealed." Bbc.co.uk. N.p., 29 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . British Crime Survey. "Household Burglary in the UK - Facts and Figures." Secureone.co.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2010. . Crimestoppers. "Case studies - Victims of distraction burglary." crimestoppers-uk.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. . Crime stoppers. "ID documents stolen in 74 per centof burglaries." Crimestoppers-uk.org. N.p., 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . Daily Mail Reporter. "The burglary map of Britain: Manchester tops crime league of shame." Dailymail.co.uk. N.p., 29 July 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . Holloway, Katy, Trevor Bennett, and David P. Farrington. "Does Neighborhood Watch Reduce Crime" Crime Prevention Research Review No. 3: 2008. Home Office. "Burglary." Homeoffice.gov. N.p., 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. . Metropolitan Police Service. met.police.uk. N.p., 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. . Neighborhoodwatch.net. "Building Secure, Confident Communities in the UK." Neighborhoodwatch.net. N.p., 2010. Web. 3 May 2010. . Reuters. "'More police needed' to beat recession burglaries." The Independent. N.p., 12 May 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . Secure at Home. "UK's Burglary Hot Spots." Scuredhome.co.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 May 2010. . The Association of Public Health. "Browsing Assessment of Reducing Burglary Initiative." APHO. N.p., 2007. Web. 12 May 2010. . Travis, Alan. "Recession Bites as Thefts and Burglaries Rise." The Guardian. N.p., 24 Apr. 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. . Woods, Judith. "UK recession: There's a new thief about...and she wants wine, coffee, cheese and opera CDs." Telegraph. N.p., Mar. 2009. Web. 3 May 2010. Read More